Dugong

Chapter 60: Keeping Chengrenhe
After the New Year's Eve banquet, Emperor Wu De returned to Wentiao Hall.

The walls of this palace are divided into two layers, the inner and outer layers, the middle layer is filled with charcoal, a fire channel is laid underground, and the walls are coated with pepper mud.

The wind was biting cold outside the hall, but it was warm inside the house.

At the end of last year, Emperor Wude caught a cold and took medicine for half a month before he recovered. Since then, he moved to Wentiao Palace to handle government affairs.

At this time, Emperor Wu De was lying on the couch, holding the stove in his hands, listening to Eunuch Leng reciting the list of gifts for the night banquet.

In previous years, only the Zhao clan members were invited, and those above them were all relatives of the same clan and origin, and everyone gave gifts to express their thoughts.

This year, there are hundreds of officials, nobles, civil officials and military generals present, so it is natural that they can't help but compare with each other.

"Prince Cheng's Mansion respectfully presents one hundred and eight South China Pearls and a Jade Longevity God Peach. Prince Rui's Mansion respectfully presents nine pairs of golden and jade ruyi and a thousand-year-old ginseng..."

When Eunuch Leng read out "Prince of Zhenbei", his voice paused slightly. This was the only prince in the dynasty whose surname was not Zhao.

"Zhenbei Palace, ten carts of gold and jade, a hundred horses, a thousand rare medicinal herbs, and tens of thousands of cattle and sheep from the frontier..."

This gift is indeed very generous, but compared with the South Pearls and longevity peaches presented by other royal palaces, it does seem a bit rustic and plain.

Emperor Wude smiled and said, "Lord Zhang is so thoughtful. Besides taking the trouble to inspect the military affairs in the northern border, he also remembered to send me a gift."

"The King of Zhenbei is truly loyal to His Majesty."

Eunuch Leng accepted the Zhang family's silver, said a few kind words, and continued to read: "His Royal Highness Prince Duan respectfully presents: a scroll of "Long Live the Emperor", a nine-foot red gold longevity pine tree, and ten carts of gold, silver and jewels!"

Emperor Wu De's smile suddenly faded, and he tapped the stove with his knuckles.

"My treasury is empty, but the second son's family has mountains of gold and silver, and he even uses gifts to help me. Where does he get so much money?"

Eunuch Leng dared not conceal anything and reported truthfully, "In the past two years, many wealthy businessmen have joined Prince Duan's army. From my investigation, I have learned that behind these businessmen are officials and nobles."

According to the laws of the country, officials and nobles are strictly prohibited from engaging in business. Anyone who engages in business will be treated as corrupt and punished with demotion at the least and exile at the worst.

Officials and nobles were ostensibly intimidated by the law and kept their distance from merchants, but they also often submitted memorials to the emperor urging him to "emphasize agriculture and suppress commerce."

He secretly got involved in business through his clansmen and slaves, opened businesses, pawnshops and money houses, and naturally made a lot of money under the protection of power.

Emperor Wu De was well aware of this, but he had no good way to deal with it. He couldn't kill all the business officials, many of whom were his die-hard supporters.

He could only snort coldly: "I'm not old yet, and you're so eager to get close to me. Do you want me to abdicate tomorrow?"

Eunuch Leng was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and fell to his knees.

The second prince stuffed a lot of silver into his pockets and deliberately listed the gift list at the top of all the princes' gifts. The comparison between the two was just to show filial piety, but he never expected that it would backfire.

Emperor Wu De scolded a few words, felt weak, and was too lazy to listen to the subsequent gift list. He ordered that all of them be deposited into the treasury.

"Bring me the golden elixir."

"As ordered."

Eunuch Leng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and crossed the second prince off the list in his mind. Of course, the silver would not be returned, as our family had put in a lot of effort.

Soon.

Eunuch Leng came back from the Fire God Temple, carefully holding a jade plate with a thumb-sized, round, golden pill on it.

This pill is called the Nine-Turn Longevity Pill, a Taoist secret medicine. It is complicated and labor-intensive to make, but taking it can strengthen the body and prolong life.

Emperor Wu De picked up the golden elixir, tilted his head back and swallowed it into his stomach.

The pill melted in the mouth, and a warm current flowed from the throat into the internal organs, flowing along the meridians to the limbs and bones, and the originally sluggish spirit suddenly became vigorous.

His eyes sparkled and his heart beat strongly.

Emperor Wu De threw the stove aside, suddenly stood up from the couch, and said with full energy: "Bring me the sword."

Eunuch Leng quickly took out the imperial sword and held it in both hands.

The sword was unsheathed, its icy gleam gleaming. Emperor Wude swung his sword in a flower pattern, then, after a brief familiarization with the feel, channeled his Qi and unleashed the Taizu Sword Technique.

This sword technique was originally an unknown martial art in the countryside, a move that was common among farmers.

Before Emperor Taizu of Dayong raised the banner of rebellion, he relied on this sword technique to roam the martial arts world without ever being defeated, and was nicknamed the Sword God of Jiangnan.

Later, he witnessed the darkness of the court and the miserable lives of the people, and angrily joined the rebel army, and step by step became the leader of the rebel army.

After Taizu conquered the north and ascended the throne, this sword technique got its name.

Emperor Wude took Taizu as his role model since he was young, and was naturally proficient in sword techniques. Even if he had not practiced for many years, he could make the sword flash with a little familiarity.

Soon it was the last move "White Rainbow Piercing the Sun". Emperor Wu De spun his body and the sword flew out of his hand, turning into a streak of white light and flying past Eunuch Leng's neck.

The sword pierced through the pillar, leaving only the hilt exposed.

Eunuch Leng kowtowed and shouted, "Your Majesty is mighty."

The other eunuchs and palace maids in the hall quickly knelt down, kowtowed and shouted in unison.

"Hahaha, so refreshing!"

Emperor Wude laughed out loud, his hair and beard standing up, and strode forward to sit on the dragon throne, his eyes sweeping over everyone in the hall.

Before tonight, the news of Your Majesty's sword dance will spread throughout the inner and outer courts.

Eunuch Leng knelt on the ground, shocked by the strong body of His Majesty. It seemed that he could live for at least another ten or eight years. All the thoughts in his mind disappeared immediately.

As long as Your Majesty is still alive, even if he only has one breath left, the situation in the palace will not change!
After a while.

Emperor Wude calmed down from his excitement, waved his hand and said, "Everyone, please leave. I want to sit alone and think about my ancestors."

Eunuch Leng led the palace maids and eunuchs and bowed as they retreated. Only Emperor Wu De was left in the huge palace, sitting alone on the dragon throne.

Looking around, I saw only a lonely person.

Emperor Wude closed his eyes and pondered for a long time. Suddenly, he asked, "Mr. Wei, how much time do I have left?"

Eunuch Wei appeared out of thin air like a ghost, bowed slightly, stretched out his hand to feel the pulse of Emperor Wude, and frowned.

"If Your Majesty stops taking the elixirs, you still have three or four years left. If you continue to consume your energy with the elixirs, you will only have one or two years left at most."

The imperial physicians in the palace are more skilled than Eunuch Wei, but they dare not tell the truth. They can only flatter His Majesty by saying that His Majesty is in good health and will live a hundred years without worries.

"I would rather die sitting on the throne than linger on my sickbed."

Emperor Wude had long been indifferent to life and death. During his reign, he destroyed the barbarians and completely eliminated the border threats in the northern border. Such achievements are enough to be recorded in history.

"Two years is more than enough. Please bring Xiaojiu here, sir. Don't disturb anyone. I want to talk to him."

Eunuch Wei asked, "Your Majesty, has your decision been made?"

"It's been decided long ago."

Emperor Wude sighed and said, "Perhaps influenced by me, all of my sons are skilled in archery and horsemanship, clamoring to lead the army to the north, as if they are not worthy of being my sons if they are not warlike.

Only Xiaojiu is gentle and doesn't like disputes.

I have been on the throne for over forty years and have fought wars for over thirty. It is time for me to rest and recuperate. The country needs a ruler who will uphold justice and maintain peace!"

Emperor Wude held Eunuch Wei's hand and spoke in a negotiating tone.

"I would like to trouble you, sir, to take good care of Xiaojiu and make sure nothing happens to him."

"Sir, obey the order!"

(End of this chapter)